Women in Film and TV (UK) (WFTV) has announced the 2026 Four Nations Mentoring Scheme cohort.
Designed for mid-career women working in film, television, and creative media, the scheme offers unparalleled opportunities to accelerate careers in an industry where women remain underrepresented in leadership roles.
The scheme continues WFTV’s efforts to empower women in the screen industries by bringing together 52 mentees from across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, chosen from hundreds of applicants. Over a six-month program, mentees will benefit from one-to-one mentoring with senior industry professionals, alongside peer-to-peer training and bespoke career and personal development workshops.
This year’s mentors feature an impressive roster of industry leaders, including:
For the North of England
- Debra Hayward, Co-Founder Monumental Television
- Chloe English, Writer / Director
- Sue Lyster, Executive in Charge, Industrial Light & Magic London
- Clare Richards, Documentary Director
- Alison Small, Senior Manager, Production Training and Industry Engagement, EMEA, Netflix
- Emma Lawson, Commissioning Editor, BBC Comedy
- Jeremy Banks, Board Advisor, Coolabi Group
- Emily Feller, Chief Creative Officer, Warp Films
- Faiza Tovey, Head of Production, ITV Studios
- Caroline Richards, Head of Production, Big Talk
For Scotland
- Lindsay Salt, Director of Drama, BBC
- Ros Taylor, Production Executive, Drama, Wall to Wall
- Emily Almond Barr, Director of Photography & Cinematography
- Wendy Griffin, Producer and founder, Selkie Productions
- Natalie Humphreys, Founder & Executive Producer, Storyboard Studios
- Bruce Goodison, Creative Director, Indefinite Films
- Claire Russell, Producer & Script Editor
- Fahima Chowdhury, Line Producer
2026 Mentor for the North of England, chief creative officer for Warp Films and WFTV board member, Emily Feller said: “I get to see from the inside out how WFTV are at the forefront of uplifting women in our industry. I am thrilled to be able to do a little more and be a mentor in this year’s Four Nations Mentoring Scheme. I hope I can pass on useful support based on my knowledge and experience to help foster women in their careers.”
Leading the scheme is WFTV’s director of mentoring, Sarah Wright, former group director of acquisitions and Sky Cinema, UK & ROI, with mentoring producers Hannah Corneck in Wales, Hazel Marshall in Scotland, Helen Bullough in the North of England, and Sarah McCaffrey in Northern Ireland, heading up their respective nations.
Wright said, “I am so excited to launch 2026’s WFTV Four Nations Mentoring Scheme. This year, we have an incredible group of 52 mentees from all around the UK, including an expanded North of England cohort, drawn from an even greater variety of roles across the industry. Added to that, we have a fabulous roster of mentors who are generously giving them their time and the benefit of their considerable experience. Our scheme is quite literally life-changing in the personal development and networking opportunities it offers. I can’t wait to get started.”
Netflix continues its valuable support for the Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales schemes through its Fund for Creative Equity, a program dedicated to creating opportunities for underrepresented communities in entertainment. The England scheme is supported by the BBC, Channel 4, EON Productions, Panalux and Panavision, Pinewood, Sara Putt Associates, the Women’s Network at NBC Universal and UKTV, while SAN (Screen Alliance North) supports the North of England scheme.
Image: (Northern 2026 mentees, credit Helen Murray)
